Background

In the last two decades, the development of information technology has impacted on the work process of academic institutions (e.g. universities, research institutions, museums, and archives). The general publics have preferred to search information on websites instead of visiting those institutions. As a result, the academic institutions have changed their roles from storing documents to digital repositories. They have aimed to be the hub of learning, teaching and researching for global audience (Jain, 2011). They have begun classifying and converting their materials such as documents, photographs, videos, and sound recordings to the digital items. However, during the transformation, many institutions have found some technical and working problems. Hence, to solve the problems, many institutions have started listing the digital guideline for their work process which is based on international standard and their cultural organisation.

The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (SAC) was established in 1991 with the primary objective of being a bank of anthropological data and information in related fields. Information is made accessible to scholars, students, and the general public through a database, in order to gain benefit for the maximum number of users. Since 2000, as part of an SAC mandate to utilize digital technology for the systematic storage and retrieval of information, the SAC has been developing a series of searchable digital databases such as Ethnic Identity Research Database, Ethnographic Films Database, Local Museums Database, and an Anthropological Archives Database. Nevertheless, during the work process, each database has found the problems about digital materials management as the centre has not provided any guideline for staffs. Hence, the institution has planned to develop guideline for digital materials management; however, this project still under development, and need more supporting from stakeholders of the centre.

Therefore, this research will examine the development of guideline for digital materials management by demonstrating the case study from digital repository of SAC.

Objectives

Literature review

Digital Curation Lifecycle Model

Methodology